Draft The Next Jerramy Stevens?
April 18th, 2013
No, Joe’s not calling for the New Schiano Order to sign a drunk-driving, weed-obsessed, alleged-rapist tight end to catch passes in the red zone. That wouldn’t happen.
But the allure of someone with Jerramy Stevens’ football talents might be a good idea for the Bucs next week, so says former Bucs tight end and current radio analyst Anthony Becht.
Speaking on WDAE-AM 620 yesterday Becht said the Bucs might be wise to take a long, late-round look at UCLA tight end Joseph Fauria. Becht is very tuned into this year’s draft class at the position. He spent much of the offseason training top-tier TE talents, including Tyler Eifert, at IMG Academy in Bradenton.
“A very good receiving tight end, big target, reminds me of a Jerramy Stevens type guy,” Becht said of Fauria. “He’s a guy that if you can get late, he can definitely make some hay into the passing game. He’s 6-7, a big tall guy, red zone, a lot of production at UCLA. He could be someone that could help you, if you’re going through the draft to find somebody.”
Fauria caught 46 balls, including 12 touchdowns, last season, but he lacks the speed to be a threat down the seam, and that’s why he’s projected as a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent.
Typically, if the Bucs coveted a West Coast or California guy like Fauria, they’d draft him in the seventh round rather than run the risk of signing him as an undrafted free agent, ala Sammie Stroughter in 2009, or Erik Lorig in 2010. The odds of luring an undrafted kid from the West Coast across the country to Tampa is tough, unless he has no other options. And if that’s the case, that’s a red flag.
As for the Bucs’ need for a giant red zone target? It can’t hurt, though Chucky, and later Greg Olson, never figured out how to maximize Stevens’ ability. Perhaps Mike Sullivan is more of an offensive genius.
April 18th, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Worth a shot. His uncle was a decent TE.
April 18th, 2013 at 1:07 pm
I watched Fauria play at UCLA, the guy can flat out ball. He had great hands and was extremely reliable in the red zone. On third downs UCLA would often call plays in which they simply threw a toss-up for him. More often than not, he would come away with a catch. I’m a huge Freeman fan, but we all know how he sometimes lofts balls up high for his receivers and expects them to come down with them (which Williams and VJax are great at doing). Fauria would be a perfect fit.
April 18th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
A TE suggesting we take…wait for it…a TE! Shocker! LOL
April 18th, 2013 at 1:21 pm
But can he block? I guess it doesn’t really matter if he is a late round pick but what would make him even more appealing is if he was a decent blocker. Can you comment on his blocking skills at all bucbucbuc?
April 18th, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Playoffs in 2013, who cares who is catching the balls at TE.
Didn’t Dominick say, after drafting Stocker: “Luke Stocker has a 2nd round draft grade, that is why we traded our 2011 and 2012 4th round picks to Philli to move up and take him.”.
Phillidelphia used our 2012 4th round pick to trade for Demeco Ryans.
Safe to say another poor draft selection.
April 18th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Definitely not “safe to say” stevek. The jury is still out on Stocker. We are talking about a fourth round pick here.
April 18th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
West Coast Bucs Fan,
Stocker cost us two 4th round picks.
Fauria would be a good pick for one 4th round pick.
Lord knows we need another good draft, especially after sitting on our hands in free agency.
I thought free agency ended the moment we signed Goldson… sighs…
Hopefully a Revis deal will be announced soon.
April 18th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
He’s the best option after the 4th round…but we really need one of the top 5 TEs.
Eifert, Ertz, Escobar, McDonald or Kelce…I feel we need one of the top 3 in the first 2 rounds…but I could settle for McDonald or Kelce.
April 18th, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Signed S Sean Baker, LS Andrew DePaola, TE Drake Dunsmore, LB Joe Holland, TE Zach Miller, DE Ernest Owusu, T Mike Remmers, CB James Rogers, DB Nick Saenz and QB Adam Weber.
Re-signed C Andrew Economos and LB Jacob Cutrera.
Signed S Dashon Goldson.
Re-signed QB Dan Orlovsky. Restructured the contract of CB Eric Wright.
Signed PK Nate Kaeding, DL George Selvie, DL Derek Landri, RB Brian Leonard and WR Steve Smith.
Yes, I would say “…sitting on our hands…” accurately describes our free agency thus far.
April 18th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
You are talking about one position stevek. Corner. Wright was restructured. That is one starting corner. Now we need one more. Draft, trade, post-draft free agency. ALL viable options to pickup the one player we need. Don’t make it sound like we didn’t sign one of the best safeties in the league.
There is a plan. It will all be much clearer before training camp.
April 18th, 2013 at 2:07 pm
Kevin Ogletree, Eric Page, Tom Crabtree…you forgot those guys as well WC
April 18th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
We’ve already got a 6th round project in Dunsmore, Noble, Pinalto, Stocker, Crabtree, Dallas in waiting etc.
For what our scheme requires, are’nt at least two of these guys sufficient?
April 18th, 2013 at 2:17 pm
@Andrew2
Thanks, forgot about those guys.
April 18th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
@WCBF
Few have grasped your point, or listened to Schiano’s recent comments on how to build a team.
It’s not all about splash names. As of now, if three or four of our FA signings can make this team better, we have a solid draft, pick up a couple of quality guys post draft, it’ s good.
April 18th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
@WestCoastBucsFan
Fauria wasn’t known for being a great blocker; his strengths are definitely on the receiving end. But in terms of a 6th or 7th round pick, I think he’s an interesting prospect to look at.
April 18th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
In that case I think we already have a bunch of those guys (Dunsmore, Noble, etc). Im not sure I would even spend the 7th round pick it might take to get him here.
April 18th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
we just need a blocking tight end thats all..
April 18th, 2013 at 6:12 pm
Nate, I thought Lorig started doing pretty well for Doug Martin last year. I think our O line play will step up this year so the need for a blocking TE may be a bit overrated. Id rather have a big, tall TE that can go up and get the ball. Yet one more weapon to add to the arsenal. Opposing defenses will have a hard time covering them all.
I thought Dallas did so so last year. He showed flashes of the Old Dallas but also dropped a few easy catches at inopportune times last year.
April 18th, 2013 at 6:21 pm
Travis Kelce. Great hands, can stretch the field, fierce blocker with a mean streak but smart. Downside is it takes a 2nd round pick.